Boston Children's Hospital Virtual Stem Cell Laboratory

This assignment is to be done in pairs.  Follow the simulation and write your answers on a separate sheet of paper that you can turn in.  Remember to put both of your names on it!

1. Go to the Boston Children's Hospital Virtual Stem Cell Laboratory (linked on my website)
2. Read the Introduction and about Embryonic Stem Cells
3. Start the simulation by choosing a coaxing agent (one of the 5 colors).  If that coaxing agent works in the ES cells, you will see movement along a pathway.  If not, try a different coaxing agent until you get some movement.
4. Write down the coaxing agent that you chose and what new cell type you went to.  Read about that cell type.
5. Continue with the coaxing agents until you reach the end of a pathway.  Write down the ending stem cell and what it can be used to treat.
6. Start over with a whole new pathway (or just back up one step to get to another), writing down the coaxing agents and products as you did above.
7. Repeat this process for 5 different complete pathways.
8. Summarize what you learned about embryonic development and how these early cells can be used to treat different disorders.
9. If time:  Discuss the ethical pros and cons of using embryonic stem cells for treating patients and write down 2 pros and 2 cons.